# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1877_S37
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 37 —

To the question: "Is there not then at some point a time when I may separate myself, if a congregation persistently refuses to take up [for discipline] those living scandalously, and never makes earnest use of church discipline?" the answer was given: Everything here depends on how the preacher stands. If he too is a frivolous fellow who absolves everyone, admits everyone to Holy Communion, let them live as they will, and you have frequently remonstrated with him about it; he has also been earnestly reproved by his superiors, but nevertheless persists in his ungodly practice: then I should confidently leave him and the congregation. So in many places in Germany separation is in order. On this one should read the theological opinions that are bound in at the end of H. Müller's "Geistliche Erquickstunden."

But as long as a preacher still preaches rightly and begins to make earnest also in practice — he does not bury all criminals, does not take everyone to Communion or as sponsors, etc., but is often for years unable to introduce church discipline in the congregation — I too should not separate from such a congregation. Indeed, a pious member rich in knowledge can and should in such a case rather be a true support to the preacher, encourage him when he perhaps becomes disheartened, etc. If a congregation tolerates such a conscientious preacher, things still stand so that one can stay with it, even if there were ever so many rough people among them. It is no ground for leaving a congregation if the ban [*Bann*, excommunication] cannot yet be exercised in it. Only when the congregation rejects church discipline may I depart from it.

Thereupon the 9th thesis was unanimously adopted, and this subject unfortunately had to be broken off for the sake of other necessary matters.

Business Proceedings.

I. The Matter of the Establishment of State Synods and a Joint Seminary.

The second committee, which had to examine last year's report of the Synodical Conference [*Synodalconferenz*], drew the venerable Conference's attention to the resolutions on state synods [*Staaten⸗Synoden*] and a general preachers' seminary [*Predigerſeminar*] and moved that the delegates of the various synods be asked to communicate their synods' resolutions on this, so that further action could be taken accordingly. After this motion had been unanimously adopted, a round of inquiry was made and the individual synods reported as follows: